When Chuck Anderson was just 18 years old, he set out to become a creative powerhouse all on his own.

Chuck had just finished high school and knew that he wanted to be a part of the creative design process that set businesses like Nike and Burton apart from the rest.

But there was a problem with his dream. Chuck wasn’t an experienced designer. So he spent a lot of his time doing design work for himself, envisioning what his work would look like for bigger things. Then, with only a small amount of experience under his belt and a passion for creativity that was nearly uncontrollable, Chuck spent countless late nights browsing around the web and tracking down email addresses for creative publishers and major companies.

Day after day he would email anyone he could, occasionally having to guess what someone’s email address could be in hopes of getting in touch with them.

Eventually, it worked. Studios began to respond to Chuck and, once they saw his creative approach to design, they wanted more from him. Within a very small amount of time, Chuck became a go-to creative designer for companies like Target, ESPN, Google, Nike, Reebok, and hundreds more.

While most of the kids Chuck’s age had some of the drive to pursue their passions, none were as driven as he was. The biggest difference between Chuck’s success and his former peer’s drudgery? Chuck was willing to take action, do the work, and spend countless hours pursuing his success. He didn’t ask for permission from anyone, or wait until he had built a large portfolio of work. Chuck didn’t sit around and daydream about how great it would be to get a job with one of the largest design firms in the world. He jumped at the opportunity to do what he loved. He waited for no one and nothing, he simply took action.

Action is a crucial step to creative success. Anyone can have ideas, only those who actually do something with their ideas are the ones who will make it.

“Success comes from taking the initiative and following up… persisting… eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?” – Tony Robbins